Monday, 17 December 2012

The Charity Commission have apologised to Social
Investigations, following a complaint made about the free market think tank,
Reform.

The complaint, which centred around Reform's links to the Conservative party,
was met with the extraordinary response that ‘there is no evidence to support the allegations
that the Reform Research Trust has links with or promotes the aims and
objectives of any political party.’

I replied saying that ‘I must admit, I am rather baffled by this part of the
response because the links to the Conservative party are extensive and as far
as their powerbase goes, is almost total. I attach the full list of their
connections to the Conservative party.’

Friday, 14 December 2012

This is a roundup of all the research carried out by Social Investigations on the free market think tank, Reform. They are increasingly influential, listened to by the neo cons and promote the dismantling of public service into the hands of corporations that fund them and so many of our parlimentarians. This has been the most indepth look at the think tank thus far with some more to come in the future.

1. The Telegraph, the Think Tank and a Very Dodgy Business: Click "And the whole sequence of Telegraph articles and editorials on the importance of the Government not going soft on public service reform, including some strong pieces on health, is something I have been orchestrating and working with Reform to bring about.’

2. Reform - Setting the Agenda with Unknown Others - Click - Chatham House Rules are a useful tool for discussions that hide the attendees. Reform, regularly use it for meetings that should be in the public domain.

3. Reform - a voice for corporations (series) - Reform has many corporations who are partners. They pay Reforn, and in return get to be in the same room as our lawmakers, lobby, contribute papers policy ideas that aim to persuade MPs. Policies that will benefit big business. Aviva, BMI Healthcare, G4S, Bupa.

4. Reform: A Charity or a conduit for privatisation? Click - Reform were at the conferences with sponsored corporations in tow, providing access to decision-makers.

6. Privatising Probation: What Reform says – Government does - Click - If you want to know what future government policy is going to be, don’t bother asking your government because they won’t tell you until it’s too late. Instead, turn your eyes to a right-wing think tank masquerading as a charity.

7. Reform think tank and their links to the Conservative Party - Click- they are a charity yet they have a clear bias towards the Conservative party - here are all their links to the right.

8. Complaint Over Think Tank 'Charity' Sent to Charity Commission - Click - based on the evidence, Reform appear to be in breach of the Charity Commission rules, so Social Investigations sent in a complaint.

9. Charity Commission Refuses to Investigate Complaint Regarding Charity's Links to the Conservative Party - Click The Charity Commission said there was 'no evidence to support the allegations that the Reform Research Trust has links with or promotes the aims and objectives of any political party.' They clearly are not bothering to look, despite being sent the clear links. Another organisation with a set of rules that are not fit for purpose.

10. Charity Commission apologises for misleading statement on Reform's connections to the Conservative party - Click

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

‘Disappointingly since joining the alliance
Cumberlege Connections has not earned any income through the alliance.’
Baroness Cumberlege26th November 2012

Rules that fail to prevent our Peers from voting
when they have a financial interest are not fit for purpose. There were
many such culprits who helped pass the Health and Social bill into Act, however,
there was one Baroness in particular, who exploited this deficiency in
democracy more than most.

Monday, 3 December 2012

It's that time of the year again when the HealthInvestor magazine announces who they consider to be the most powerful individuals in the private healthcare market. The annual backslapping is less about care and more about power, influence and money. Is this the future of healthcare in this country? I hope not.

Seven of the top Fifteen or just under 50% of the top 15 have links to Lords or MPs - the full list is below.

There may be more but for now this is the list and their connections. Please let me know if you know of any other connections these companies have to our beloved public servants; lest we forget their role.

A list was produced earlier this year for the HealthInvestor awards for the most favoured companies of 2012 - you can see that here.